Sunday Morning Coffee — November 9, 2025 — “Prettiest Town I’ve Ever Seen…”
By Roy Berger, Las Vegas, NV.
Yeah, yeah I know I wrote in last Sunday’s Scramble this would be a bye week for Sunday Morning Coffee. It was in the last paragraph. Nobody reads SMC that far down. Not Andi, not my kids, not 13-week old granddaughter Harley unless her picture is at the bottom which, of course, it would never be. Not even fellow Miami alum and SMC editor Cathy Dorricott in Philly. She normally takes a knee about a third through.
So what are we doing here this morning? Well, it is kind of a quasi-bye week. In our October 19 SMC Scramble there was a mention of a quick one-day trip I took to Abilene, Kansas. Joe Brancatelli, a longtime friend and colleague, actually read that far. Joe’s sweet spot is the travel industry and business travel in particular. He’s been in the game a long time. Joe is the publisher of the highly regarded JoeSentMe.com website/blog where he doesn’t hesitate to hold airlines and hotels accountable in their quest to try and outsmart the savvy travelers. Every now and again he might even toss the industry a compliment but it’s as rare as a Jets fan’s smile. He is the former executive editor of Frequent Flyer Magazine and has written for Forbes, Fortune, The Washington Post and a slew of other pubs. JoeB is the E.F. Hutton of business travel—when he writes, everyone reads. Though JoeSentMe.com is a weekly Sunday night release, when the industry faces a crisis, like we are in now, Brancatelli updates his subscribers almost daily.
Every now and again I’ll write something in SMC that he reprints on his site. When I mentioned Abilene in the Scramble paragraph three weeks ago, Joe asked me if I would rewrite the piece with a little more heft to be used as a stand alone feature for his readers. I did and he included it last Sunday in JoeSentMe.com.
So, perfect for a bye week and a second coffee pour with the back end of a poppy seed bagel, here’s a little bit more about Abilene, Kansas, that I know you’ve been chomping for:
https://basics.joesentme.com/abilene.html
I’m proud that Medjet is sponsoring Sunday Morning Coffee. I spent 20 wonderful years with Medjet in Birmingham, Alabama, and can tell you unequivocally they are the standard-bearer for medical assistance membership programs. A talented staff, who cares about its members, is at the forefront of the company’s success. Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, domestic or international, a Medjet membership should be an important part of your travel portfolio before you leave home. Check out the Medjet website at medjet.com or just tap on the Medjet logo and you’ll be able to get a look at Medjet’s services, rules and regulations, pricing, and an overview of the organization. And remember, any opinions expressed in Sunday Morning Coffee content or comments belong to the author and not the sponsor. Safe travels with your Medjet membership! — Roy Berger
That was one fascinating post. One of your best. Every reader knew nothing about Abilene KS before that post.
BTW…I always read down to the bottom…even the copyright.
Unlike your critique of my acting ability(inside joke!) I do believe you have a solid future as a writer! Your article ALMOST made me want to visit Abilene, Kansas!